Madrid-area festivals join forces

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MADRID -- The wide-ranging spectrum of festivals on offer in the region of Madrid have packed together to form the umbrella organization Filmad, designed to operate as a platform to synchronize, promote and strengthen each of the area's film events.

More than 18 festivals, including the Semana de Cine Experimental, Documenta Madrid and Animadrid, participate in the group, which was inspired by the European Coordination of Film Festivals.

A gala presentation of the entity will take place Tuesday at which organizers will screen six prizewinning shorts from the past year, including "La Lupe i en Bruno" (2005), directed by Marc Riba and Anna Solanas; "El Rosario de la Aurora" (2007), by Ivan Lara; "Ponys" (2005), by David Planell; "Null Grad/Cero grados" (2006), by Claudia Lorenz; "Medianeras" (2005), by Gustavo Taretto; and "For(r)est in the Des(s)ert" (2006), by Luis Berdejo.